Categorisation of EU
interventions
Cohesion policy 2014-20
John Walsh, DG REGIO, Unit Evaluation and European
Semester
1
The SF categorisation system …
• An information system (not priority or eligibility list)…
to increase quality of information, transparency and
policy accountability on the use of cohesion policy
resources across Europe.
• It tracks the financial inputs and monitors programming
and progress in the implementation of the cohesion
programmes 2007-2013
• across themes
• across Objectives
• across Member States
2
Structure of categorisation
system 2007-13 - 5 dimensions
Ex-ante + ex-post
+ “Priority Themes” - 86 codes
+ Form of Finance - 4 codes
+ Territorial dimension - 11 codes
Ex-post only – reported according to the combination of codes
+ Above three dimensions and
+ Economic Dimension - 23 Codes
+ Location Dimension – N° of Nuts II/III codes varies by MS
(ESF also has beneficiary data ... not ERDF/CF)
3
Measuring Progress …
in a simplified project pipeline 2007-13
Programmes => EU Financial allocations (Ex-ante)
•
Project preparation, calls ….
•
Project selection (at OP level – Ex-Post)
=> data by theme (including earmarking)
+ 4 other dimensions
•
•
Contracting, procurement by project promoter
Spending
=> expenditure declarations
(at OP/ priority axis level – not associated to priority themes)
•
Indicators / Completion
=> outputs / results
(at OP level – not associated to priority themes)
4
Categorisation :
2007-13 vs 2014-2020
2007-2013
2014-2020
N° Dimensions
5
5 + 1 (ESF)
Frequency of data
Once per year 30/06
Once per year 31/1
Coverage
Decided – selection
+ spending
Level of reporting
OP
Priority axis
Concentration on EU
priorities
Through Lisbon
Earmarking
Through thematic
objectives
Climate and
biodiversity tracking
Informal
Formalised with
defined weightings
5
Dimensions :
2007-13 vs 2014-2020
2007-2013
2014-2020
1."Priority theme" =>
"Intervention Field"
86
100
2. Form of Finance
4 codes
4 codes (with
amendment)
3. Territorial dimension
11 codes
<10 codes (with
amendments)
Ex-ante and ex-post
Ex post selection / spending only
4. Economic Dimension
23 codes
Small changes
5. Location
National NUTS
codes
No change
6
Thematic concentration - 11 thematic
objectives
1.
2.
3.
Research & innovation
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
Competitiveness of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
(SMEs)
4. Shift towards a low-carbon economy
5. Climate change adaptation & risk prevention and
management
6. Environmental protection & resource efficiency
7. Sustainable transport & removing bottlenecks in key
network infrastructures
8. Employment & supporting labour mobility
9. Social inclusion & combating poverty
10. Education, skills & lifelong learning
11. Institutional capacity building & efficient public
administrations
7
Programme structure / reporting level
 Thematic Objectives = Priority Axis
=> Policy purpose
 Investment Priorities
=> Policy priorities / specific objectives (with
results expected)
 +/-100 Intervention Fields
=> investments
System offers flexibility in use of “Intervention fields”
against the different “Thematic Objectives”
8
Improved ventilation of "intervention fields"
Key Changes I
• Innovation & R&D and SME distinguish …
a. Support to public vs private R&D efforts
b. Clarify SME supports – Service to SMEs vs investments
by SMEs
c. Ventilation of e-services
•
•
•
•
E-Gov
E health
E-Inclusion, etc
E-commerce
d. Social entrepreneurship
9
Improved ventilation of "intervention fields"
Key Changes II
• Improved ventilation of certain categories
a. Energy efficiency - buildings vs homes vs SMEs
b. TEN-T priorities – core vs comprehensive
c. Distinguish risk prevention – Climate /Env vs human
activities
d. [Distinguish public vs private culture and tourism]
e. [Water supply vs conservation]
10
Improved ventilation of inteventions
Energy efficiency, cogeneration, energy management
… to become …
Energy efficiency renovation of public infrastructure
Energy efficiency renovation of existing housing stock and
demonstration projects
Energy efficiency in SMEs
Intelligent Energy Distribution Systems at low voltage levels
(smart grids)
Co-generation and district heating
11
Changes to other dimensions
Principal reasons for changes is that these dimension should
have added value.
• Form of finance: clarify and Introduce "repayable grants";
eliminate "other forms"
• Territorial dimension: clarify "Rural codes" [introduce
"Macro regional dimension" delete different forms of ETC]
• Economic dimension: Essentially keep list with small
adjustments. Very important for RTDI / Business support,
labour market (green jobs)
• Location: No change
12
ESF – Secondary Theme dimension
(ex-ante & ex-post reporting)
To be reported ex-ante and ex-post:
1. Integrated schemes for urban and rural development
2. Supporting the shift to a low-carbon, resource
efficient economy (100% weighting)
3. Enhancing the accessibility, use and quality of information
and communication technologies
4. Enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs
5. Strengthening research, technological development and
innovation
6. Social innovation
7. Not Applicable
13
Main characteristics … in a nutshell
• Ex-ante negotiation and annual ex-post monitoring
• No double counting
• Better more timely information on stages of project
pipeline
– decided, selected, [contracted], expenditure declared
• More refined “intervention fields” learning from
experience
• Use of Rio markers / bio diversity tracking across ERDF,
ESF and Cohesion Fund to track climate contribution:
integrated no additional burden.
14
Timetable
• Informal discussion with MS early 2013 in implementing
and delegated acts => to reach broad agreement;
• Categorisation codes and templates to be finalised in
implementing act after adoption of legislation;
• After adoption of implementing act MS to put in place
amended data systems to
• allow encoding of selected projects
• Production of annual reporting tempaltes
15
Questions?
• …. And thank you for your attention
16